The Role of Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Management of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Current Review

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing in the USA despite a decline in traditional risk factors. This trend is attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies and is particularly notable in a younger patient demographic with fewer comorbid diseases and longer life expectancies. Therefore, both oncologic and functional outcomes are important to consider when managing OPSCC in the modern era. The historical management of OPSCC was typically surgical, but traditional open approaches resulted in significant morbidity. As the paradigm shifted, organ-preserving treatment regimens, namely, radiotherapy (RT) and chemoradiation (CRT), replaced surgery as the primary treatment modality. However, these treatment strategies are not without risk of significant sequelae and functional impairment. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive surgical approach that offers surgical access to the oropharynx without the morbidity of open procedures while achieving excellent oncologic and functional outcomes. The appropriate application of this new technology is still being investigated but the current literature supports TORS as a viable option in the management of OPSCC.